S.U 

The youngest son of Fugaku Uchiha stared at the ceiling of his room, as he had been doing for the past hour or so. His mind was unrested, spinning with all kind of thoughts, concerning the coming up wedding, his father, his choice and most of all, her. 

Turning to his side, Sasuke shook the thoughts from his head. He knew he needed to move on. Everyone had been telling him that. In two years he was going to get married to somebody else, whether he liked it or not unless he found someone he loved before.

There was no chance of Sasuke falling in love while he still was in love. And Fugaku had already made it clear to him that she wasn't an option.

If his future bride was chosen by Fugaku, there was no doubt that they would have to be from a wealthy clan. His thoughts instantly went to the main branch of the Hyuuga clan. 

Hinata Hyuuga was already with Naruto, so Fugaku wouldn't choose her. Or would he? There was also Hanabi, Hinata's younger sister. She was single. Certainly Fugaku would consider her. 

There was also the Yamanaka, Akimichi, Nara, Aburame, Inuzuka and Sarutobi clans. But most of the offspring of the main branches were either male or taken. The Inuzukas had a female, but Sasuke didn't think that his father would favor the animal-like clan. 

Sasuke sighed, knowing that whoever his father chose, he would not be able to fall in love with. It would be a loveless marriage, its only purpose to strengthen family bonds, increase money and produce a child. 

A rather troubling thought struck Sasuke. What if his father still had an eye on the Uzumaki clan? What if Fugaku wanted another chance with Sasuke and her?

Yes, the redhead had matured, but he still didn't like her that much. Not after high school.

"Teme?" a sleepy voice broke the silence in the room. Naruto yawned before shuffling out of his bed. "Did you not get any sleep? Were you thinking until seven in the morning?"

"What does it look like, dobe?" Sasuke replied, turning onto his back. A feeling of unrest clouded his head. "I hate my family."

"Not Itachi," Naruto's voice sounded less sleepy as he pulled back the blinds. Yellow light poured in to the room and Sasuke winced. "Or your mum. Or Shisui. Or Obito. Or Izumi."

The other male sat up in bed, running a hand through his hair tiredly. "I know. It's just my father."

"Speaking of your family," Naruto sounded completely awake right now, a contrast to Sasuke who needed coffee. "Don't you have another wedding meeting in an hour?"

Sasuke closed his eyes and sighed again, wishing that he could just sleep through the day.

-------------------

S.H 

Sakura woke up with a groan and an aching back. She decided that the couch she slept on was definitely built for looks, and not for comfort, and silently cursed at Ino for forcing her into such an awkward place. 

Last night Sai had stayed over, and the original plan was for him to sleep on the couch, and Sakura peacefully on her own bed. But it turns out Sai and Ino's relationship had advanced quicker than she had thought, and their late night bar trip had resulted in them being slightly drunk and...let's say thriving to explore one another. 

Moving on, when Ino had set up her mind for something, she will do it. Being drunk only makes her more firm. And that's how Sakura was kicked out of her own room by her best friend to be replaced by Ino's boyfriend.

She added in some silent grumbles towards Sai. 

"Good morning, Sakura," Hinata joined her on the couch, her smile faltering when catching sight of the pinkette. "You seem...tired."

"Exhausted would be a better word," yawned Sakura, sitting up. "I need a triple espresso real quick."

Hinata quickly jumped to her feet, and now Sakura could fully see that Hinata had already gotten ready, even if it was eight in the morning. "I'll go make one then."

"No, no, it's alright," Sakura insisted hastily. "If there's anyone who should make it, it's that pig."

As if on cue, Ino walked out of her bedroom, stretching her arms and grinning brilliantly. Sai followed after her, a smile on his face too. 

"Did you two sleep well last night?" Sakura smiled sweetly at them. They both exchanged smiles and a few blushes before nodding. An irk mark grew on Sakura. "Well, I didn't! Ino, go get me a triple espresso! Sai, make sure that my bedroom is left spotless! Cha!"

"Y-Yes!" stuttered Sai nervously, racing back into the back room. 

Ino flicked her hair and huffed, "Alright, alright! Calm down forehead!"

That's how they came to be at the dining table a few minutes later, Sakura at the head with her coffee in her hand and Sai and Ino slightly cowering at the other side of the table. Glancing at the trio, both Tenten and Hinata couldn't contain their laughs. Even Temari had a grin on her face while she served the breakfast (waffles).

Eventually, they all joined in laughing, even Sakura. She couldn't help but treasure little moments like this, small bits of her life which were perfect. 

"Enough laughing, I'm hungry!" exclaimed Tenten, reaching out for her cutlery. "Let's eat!"

The others chorused her words, Hinata saying it in traditional Japanese, "Itadakimasu."

Simulatenously, the six of them dug into their chocolate drizzled waffles. Ino said with a mouth full of food, "It's so good."

"I agree," Sai piped up, giving his signature smile. 

Hinata nodded enthusiastically along with Sakura. "You outdid yourself, Temari."

"Thanks," the blonde mumbled in pleased embarrassment.

Tenten elbowed Temari with a cheeky grin. "Shikamaru is lucky to have you, don't you think?"

At the mention of Shikamaru, Sakura's eyes instantly went to Ino to see how she was. But to her surprise, Ino hadn't changed at all and joined in teasing Temari with Shikamaru. A smile subconsciously made its way onto her face. Despite his annoying behavior towards Sakura, she had to admit that he was doing wonders for Ino. 

buzz

She jolted back to the present at the noise and vibration of her phone. Frowning, she pulled her phone out of her pocket to see that a message from the Uchiha estate and Izumi had just been sent to her. 

a/n, sorry that the time is six pm, i couldn't change it

Sakura's eyes widened. Another wedding rehearsal? This time with the groomsmen? There was no way Sasuke would be allowed to skip another rehearsal after missing all the previous ones. Fugaku would force him to go. 

She read Izumi's message. Would she be okay with that? She expected to have many emotions stirring up, but nothing was there. Everything felt numb now. This was the first time she would come to a place where she expected to meet him. 

Should Sakura even go? If they argued like the time with Shikamaru, that would ruin the wedding rehearsal, and Fugaku definitely wouldn't be happy with that. 

"Sakura?" Hinata's voice floated into her head. She blinked, and realized that the other five were frowning in confusion. "What's the message about?"

"There's an unexpected wedding rehearsal today," Sakura said. "I have to come. Unlike all the other wedding rehearsals, this one is for both genders. That means Sasuke has to come as well."

Silence replaced the laughter and chatter in the room as everyone realized why exactly Sakura was behaving like that. Temari asked, "So are you going to go?"

"I have to, don't I?" Sakura gave a shaky laugh before setting her mouth in a determined line. "Like I've been telling myself over and over, I need to get over Sasuke, which is why I'm going to the wedding. I shouldn't let incidents of the past decide my future. Besides, Sasuke and I know that we have to act like adults for Itachi and Izumi. We won't squabble like kids at the rehearsal."

Even as she said those confident words, her emotions were starting to arise, starting with an agonizing anxiety. Ino reached out and squeezed her hand in a sisterly way. "Do you want me to come?"

Sakura shook her head. "I'll be fine on my own."

Sai let out a little laugh, giving out his signature smile. "Don't overstress yourself. You act like you're entering the Hunger Games."

Laughter rippled throughout the table again, but it felt faded this time. Sai spoke up again, this time more serious. "And don't worry about Sasuke. Everything will be fine."

Sakura's forehead creased, confused as to why Sai was confident that everything would be fine. Sai hastily added, "Just trust me."

"Alright," she answered, not completely reassured. She started walking away to get changed in her room, the anxiety only growing bigger. 

--------------------

S.U 

"Sasuke!"

His mother kissed him on the cheek before sitting back down at the long dining table of the main Uchiha estate, ushering him to take a seat.

Candles and cutlery adorned the long, furnished oak table that ran up the entire room. Despite it being unnecessarily large, only five chairs were placed around the furniture; two at the ends for Itachi and Fugaku and two on the side of the head chairs for Mikoto and Izumi. A lone chair was set up right in the middle. 

Sasuke reluctantly took the seat. His rocky relationship with his father left him in an increasingly bad mood each meeting, and he wasn't looking forward to starting it up again.

But, ultimately, these meetings wasn't for him to please his father. They were for Itachi. Sasuke would never admit it, but he loved Itachi as a brother whole-heartedly. Last night he had decided to go to the meeting, only for Itachi and Izumi. He only wanted his brother to be happy on his big day. 

"So you finally decided to come," Fugaku glared at him. Sasuke only kept his eyes fixed on the wall in front of him, never blinking once. "We nearly had to postpone the wedding because of your disorderly behavior."

Sasuke nearly scoffed. Fugaku had hired almost fifteen wedding planners. Surely the wedding could go on even if he didn't contribute. Mikoto sent her husband a look. "But he's here now, Fugaku. That's what matters."

"I suppose so," grumbled the head of Uchiha. 

Itachi cleared his throat. "Moving on, we are here today to talk about the finalized wedding list, and to finalize many other things. Such as the food."

"We all agree of a mix of Asian cuisines, right?" Izumi asked. The other four nodded. "And Japanese traditional cake, with a variety of desserts."

"As long as dango is involved," muttered Itachi so only Izumi and Sasuke could hear. The former gave a little laugh and Sasuke had trouble suppressing a smile. 

"What is that?" Fugaku said sharply.

"Nothing," Itachi said hurriedly. "Anyways, I was handed in the final wedding list by the staff."

Mikoto spoke up, "What of the Kiba Inuzuka and Sakura Haruno situation?"

Sasuke kept his eyes on the wall, determined not to show any emotion. 

"They're both attending," Izumi replied. "With Sakura being a bridesmaid."

"Who are your bridesmaids again, Izumi?" Fugaku said in an evaluating tone.

Izumi tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, looking a little nervous, "Sakura, Konan, Shizune, Shinko and Naori. Shinko is my maid of honor."

"And groomsmen?"

"Nagato, Deidara, Kisame, Obito and Shisui," recited Itachi. "Shisui is best man."

Sasuke couldn't help but zone out as the rest of them continued droned on about all the little details of the wedding. He didn't see why it was so urgent for him to be here if he didn't have anything to contribute. At last, after an hour, the meeting finished. 

He stood up, relief surging through his body. "I'm going to go back to my apartment now."

"Sasuke," Fugaku said. "You will not. Since you missed all the previous wedding rehearsals, I have scheduled one today for you as it is absolutely essential."

If Sasuke could, he would've groaned out loud. Fugaku gave him a fixed stare, this time including Itachi and Izumi in it, "All of the bridesmaids and groomsmen are coming so all of you must be on your best behavior."

"The bridesmaids too?" Sasuke said, dread welling up as he made connections. Fugaku looked directly at him. 

"Yes."

And for the second time that day, Sasuke wished he could've just slept through it.

--------------------------

sorry this took so long to publish, i went on a road trip. also sorry for the crappy ending, i didn't really know how to end it.

REMEMBER...VOTE...COMMENT...SHARE!!!

Word count: 2139